Abstract Aims: To identify crucial programme characteristics and group mechanisms of, and lessons learned from hindrances in an empowerment programme for certified nursing assistants and contribute to the development of similar programmes in other care settings. Design: Exploratory qualitative study. Methods: Between May 2017 and September 2020, we used in-depth interviews and participant observations to study four groups participating in an empowerment programme for certified nursing assistants (N = 44). Results: We identified three crucial empowerment-enhancing programme characteristics: (1) inviting participants to move outside their comfort zone of caregiving; (2) stimulating the use of untapped talents, competencies and interests; (3) supporting the rediscovery of participants' occupational role and worth. Crucial group mechanisms encompassed learning from and with each other, as well as mechanisms of self-correction and self-motivation. Hindrances included a perceived lack of direction, and a lack of organizational support and facilitation. Conclusion: We showed the significance of creating an inviting and stimulating environment in which participants can explore and function in ways they otherwise would not. Likewise, we identified how this can help participants learn from, critically correct and motivate one another. Impact: The programme under study was uniquely aimed to empower certified nursing assistants. Our insights on crucial programme characteristics and group mechanisms may benefit those who develop empowerment programmes, but also policymakers and managers in supporting certified nursing assistants and other nursing professions in empowerment endeavours. Such empowerment may enhance employee retention and make occupational members more likely to address challenges affecting their occupational group and the long-term care sector.
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Abstract Aims: To identify crucial programme characteristics and group mechanisms of, and lessons learned from hindrances in an empowerment programme for certified nursing assistants and contribute to the development of similar programmes in other care settings. Design: Exploratory qualitative study. Methods: Between May 2017 and September 2020, we used in-depth interviews and participant observations to study four groups participating in an empowerment programme for certified nursing assistants (N = 44). Results: We identified three crucial empowerment-enhancing programme characteristics: (1) inviting participants to move outside their comfort zone of caregiving; (2) stimulating the use of untapped talents, competencies and interests; (3) supporting the rediscovery of participants' occupational role and worth. Crucial group mechanisms encompassed learning from and with each other, as well as mechanisms of selfcorrection and self-motivation. Hindrances included a perceived lack of direction, and a lack of organizational support and facilitation. Conclusion: We showed the significance of creating an inviting and stimulating environment in which participants can explore and function in ways they otherwise would not. Likewise, we identified how this can help participants learn from, critically correct and motivate one another. Impact: The programme under study was uniquely aimed to empower certified nursing assistants. Our insights on crucial programme characteristics and group mechanisms may benefit those who develop empowerment programmes, but also policymakers and managers in supporting certified nursing assistants and other nursing professions in empowerment endeavours. Such empowerment may enhance employee retention and make occupational members more likely to address challenges affecting their occupational group and the long-term care sector
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Over the last few decades health promotion has increasingly focused on the empowerment of deprived communities and is shifting from a 'top-down' approach to a participatory practice, aimed at helping people to gain control over their lives and health. Previous research shows that this shift is not without problems. In The Netherlands, an Action Learning Programme on Empowerment was developed to help health promotion practitioners in this transition. 24 Practitioners from different fields of health promotion took part in a six-month programme. Qualitative data were collected from different sources and methods and were analysed using a thematic analysis. The findings threw light on a core dilemma in health promotion practice and several barriers to bringing empowerment into practice, both on a personal level, and in relationship to the community and wider institutional context. The implications of this study for the empowerment ethos of health promotion and its feasibility within the current West-European policy context are discussed.
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The Northern Netherlands (NN) finds itself at the junction of all the big transitions. Digitalisation is essential to follow through with these. Considering this, our region has the potential to make sizeable progress if it can successfully roll out widespread digitalisation. As a hardcore transition economy, the NN may even join the European frontrunners and act as an example for other regions. It is from this challenge that the NN will start with the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH NN). We have chosen to specialise in the area of Autonomous Systems, which includes multiple digital technologies that are relevant for the four transitions in the NN: (1) Smart Agro, (2) Smart Manufacturing, (3) Life Science and Health and (4) Utilities, Built Environment and Mobility. In the first three-year EDIH NN wants to support more than 750 companies and lay the foundation for long-term support of all companies. The following building blocks for EDIH NN are: • A Brokerage network that will identify issues regarding digitalisation and relay these to Solution Providers (high TRL) and knowledge providers (low TRL). • A Test Before Invest network (test and demo facilities) comprising 20+ organisations that will invest in Autonomous Systems within their domain, and collaborate towards becoming a European testing ground. • A Smart Factory Accelerator to strengthen the digital maturity of companies. • An Empowerment programme to strengthen companies in the areas of DEP Technologies: Cyber Security and Artificial Intelligence. • An approach based on High Performance Computing to make digitalisation more accessible. • The Smart Makers Academy: A programme aimed at matching supply and demand around digital skills, based on individual learning outcomes. • A Funding Readiness programme to help companies that need to invest for their digitalisation strategy, in finding funding opportunities. • A network to stimulate supply and demand around Autonomous Systems
De terugtredende overheid gaat gepaard met een verschuiving van publieke taken van overheid naar burgers. Ook in Amsterdam zijn deze veranderingen sterk voelbaar. De verzorgingsarrangementen die sinds het einde van de tweede wereldoorlog zijn opgebouwd, worden ingeruild voor een participatiesamenleving waarin burgerverbanden in toenemende mate publieke taken op zich nemen. Deze Raak-aanvraag sluit aan bij de grote gevolgen die deze politiek-bestuurlijke veranderingen hebben voor professionals die zich richten op burgerparticipatie en gemeenschapsvorming. Deze participatieprofessionals werken als opbouwwerker, als medewerker in de dagopvang of andere buurtinitiatieven, ook zijn ze in dienst van de gemeente als buurtcoördinator of gebiedsmakelaar. Participatieprofessionals geven aan zich dagelijks voor dilemma?s gesteld te zien. Er is dringend behoefte aan een nieuw reflectiekader en handelingsrepertoire. Zij vragen zich af waaraan zij de legitimatie voor hun werk ontlenen, hoe ze kunnen ondersteunen zonder te sturen, hoe ze om moeten gaan met tegenstrijdige belangen en hoe je een burgerverband versterkt. In de kern gaat het om twee vragen: Welke doelen moet ik nastreven en welke rol kan ik daarin spelen? Dit project pakt deze vragen op vanuit groepsempowerment, situationeel leiderschap en public mediation. Samen met professionals vertalen we de inzichten uit deze kennisgebieden naar een vernieuwd handelingsrepertoire en reflectiekader. We implementeren, monitoren en evalueren vernieuwingen in kader en repertoire in vier reeds bestaande burgerverbanden in Amsterdam. Tevens wordt gekeken naar de overdraagbaarheid van de onderzoeksuitkomsten naar andere wijken in Amsterdam en mogelijk daarbuiten. Het consortium dat het onderzoek zal uitvoeren bestaat uit de lectoraten Management van Cultuurverandering en Cultural and Social Dynamics van het Amsterdams Kenniscentrum voor Maatschappelijke Innovatie (AKMI) van de Hogeschool van Amsterdam. Daarnaast participeren het Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research and the Public Mediation Programme van de Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdams Steunpunt Wonen, De Volksbond, een drietal zzp-ers en de Amsterdamse stadsdelen Nieuw-West en Zuidoost.
